Traveling can be fun if services at the airport are up to the mark. Spending time at the airport is very cumbersome. But at the same time, you feel excited going to the airport if the airport you are going to provides services like free Wi-Fi, yoga rooms, great food, beverage shops, retail stores, comfortable terminals, and efficient security. Other factors to be considered are the timeliness of flights and ease of access to the city center, transportation costs, public transportation options, and the time taken to reach the airport. Let us take a look at the list of international airports in USA (in no particular order).
But before that, you need to remember that a foreign national traveling to the United States of America must possess a US visa. One can apply for different types of US visas. For tourism, a foreign national, needs a US visit visa, also called the B-2, unless qualifying under the visa waiver program.
1) Portland International Airport (PDX)
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Portland International Airport, Oregon’s largest, serves 20 million travelers yearly. Located 10 miles from downtown, it offers easy city access and sits near the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Its iconic 1980s carpet, featuring geometric red, navy, and purple lines on a teal background, has a cult following.
Travelers love its convenient rail links, free Wi-Fi, tax-free shopping, great amenities, and local food and drink options, including microbrews and craft spirits. Portland International Airport is a hub of Alaska Airlines. Internationally, you can fly directly to PDX from Frankfurt, Toronto, Vancouver, British Columbia, London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Calgary.
2) Denver International Airport (DEN)
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Denver International Airport is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains West. Colorado’s only international airport and global gateway to Colorado, since its opening on Feb 28, 1995, Denver International Airport has become the fifth busiest airport in the US, recording 58.3 million passengers in 2016. It is the largest airport in the US, spread across 13,726 hectares. This airport has non-stop services to over 20 international destinations and direct flights even to international locations such as Reykjavik and Iceland.
The Jeppesen Terminal is host to the airport’s iconic peaked roof, which imitates the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. Denver International Airport is always reaching new culinary heights, and each Concourse A, B, and C offer a wide selection of more than 140 food and drink options along with shopping.
3) Tampa International Airport (TPA)
As a gateway to Tampa Bay, the airport serves more than 19 million passengers annually. TPA has embarked on renovations, modernizations, and expansions. Due to its well-planned improvements, you can get through security without any hassles, and the overall cleanliness is the reason that TPA is ranked as one of the best airports in the US.
As per its expansion developments, 60000 square feet of usable space, enough to fit a football field, is added. Four new outdoor terraces provide places for passengers to relax, enjoy the breeze, and view the sunset of Florida’s Gulf Coast. There is a central area for shops, family zones, workspace for business travelers, public art, and comfortable lounge seating. The design integrates the soft colors of Tampa’s beaches and bay and the lush green of the local flora.
4) San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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The San Francisco Airport, located 13 miles south of Downtown San Francisco, is one of the busiest airports in the United States of America. It is a major flight point for flights to Europe and Asia. The passenger traffic is huge mainly because it is the only international platform serving the entire Bay Area of the Western US.
Even though there are four terminals and 115 gates, it becomes impossible to manage the traffic with ease. Advantages of travelling from this airport are that it provides world-class facilities to its patrons, from museums, Sky Terrace, Xpress Spa, Yoga, Kid’s area, and Christian Science reading room to shopping for luxury brands, designer boutiques, and gift shops featuring local souvenirs. The airport provides a range of options from sit-down restaurants, cafes, delis, and wine bars.
5) Miami International Airport (MIA)
Sprawled over 3230 acres, the Miami International Airport is the best airport for international travelers. The MIA offers more flights to the Caribbean and Latin American countries than any other US airport. The facilities in the airport include fine dining restaurants and duty-free shops. Explore the interactive, mobile-friendly maps to easily find your way to all the MIA shops and restaurants.
The airport also houses a luxury Airport Hotel. In June 2019, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a 15-year capital improvement plan for Miami International Airport. The program focuses on future capacity, upgraded Concourse D gates, and a new automated baggage system.
6) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
John F. Kennedy International Airport, the fifth busiest in the US, serves 60 million passengers yearly and is 15 miles from Manhattan. Duty-free shops offer watches, sunglasses, and jewelry, while high-end brands like Cartier, Michael Kors, and Bvlgari sell fashion and travel accessories. There are places to shop for high-end brands like Cartier, Michael Kors, and Bvlargi for leather goods, fashion, and travel accessories.
Jabbrrbox, an automated retail lounge, is a technology-equipped workspace for people who need a better environment to work. The Air train, which connects the subway system of New York City and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), keeps the JFK airport accessible to the city people. In fact, it is one of the US Cities to fly directly from Dubai Airport.
7) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
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The Los Angeles International Airport is the main gateway to Los Angeles, California. Among the busiest airports in the world, LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports. For the US airline industry, Los Angeles International Airport is a hub for American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Airlines, and Jet Blue.
The LAX is known for its comfortable airport lounges, duty-free shops, eateries, and free Wi-Fi. The New Delta Sky Club in Terminal 3 features an indoor/outdoor double bar, showers, and a Sky deck, One of the fun things to do in Los Angeles California airport is to feast your eyes on the views of the iconic Hollywood Hills. The shuttle bus available at the entrance of each terminal leaves every ten minutes, making it easier for passengers to travel around the airport.
8) Washington (Dulles) International Airport (IAD)
The Dulles International Airport is among the three major airports in the Baltimore – Washington metropolitan area. There are 113 gates and three terminals for managing the passenger traffic, serving more than 15 million passengers in 2021. A hub for Southern Airways Express and United Airlines, there are lounges of British Airways, Air France, Etihad, Lufthansa, United Airlines, and many more.
You can take direct flights and travel from Dubai to USA with ease. Amenities include fast food and dining options like Dunkin’ and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, business lounges, a kids’ play area, showers, nursing rooms, a sleep box, and a chapel. The Dulles International Airport does not have any onsite hotels. However, you can rest in the sleep box lounge, consisting of 16 soundproof rooms.
Conclusion
Other major international airports in the USA include Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, Orlando, Dallas Fort Worth, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Several factors come together to make for a good airport. An airport experience can signal the beginning of a wonderful trip.
Many other US airports, besides these, are equally popular and offer world-class facilities with great deals for travelers.